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Deciding
I keep a list of books I read throughout the year. Sometimes I wonder if I have captured everything. My official count was twenty eight. I used to note books I abandoned. I decided at some point that if a book didn’t grab me, it was okay to let it go. It wasn’t a reflection Continue reading
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Year’s End
2025 is coming to a close. We have to admit it’s been a challenging one. “Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it well and Continue reading
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Book Notes: We Need Your Art
Awhile back, my wife sent me a link to a TEDX talk entitled The Case For Making Your Art When The World Is On Fire. The presenter was Aimee McNee. She makes the argument that making art isn’t self indulgent but an imperative – a radical act of creation. She’s funny, engaging and inspiring. It’s Continue reading
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Parasocialism
Parasocial refers to a one-sided relationship where a person feels a strong connection to a media personality, such as a celebrity or influencer, despite having no personal interaction with them. This phenomenon often occurs through repeated exposure to their content, leading individuals to perceive these figures as friends or confidants. Parasocial was recently selected by Continue reading
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Book Notes: Battle for the Big Top
I remember seeing the circus when I was young – probably around first grade or maybe younger. Curiously it’s one of the few childhood memories I have retained as I don’t remember much of that time. It was in the long gone Forbes Field in Pittsburgh – the site of the University of Pittsburgh business Continue reading
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Genii Renewal
I received my annual email from Genii that my subscription was expiring this month. I’ve been a subscriber for close to thirty years and a reader for many more years. When I lived in Western Pennsylvania, I would visit my favorite magic shop and the latest Genii was a regular purchase. Since moving west, I’ve Continue reading
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Book Notes: MaddAddam
MaddAddam is the final book in Margaret Atwood’s trilogy of the same name. Like its predecessors, the novel takes place in a world of climate change, the aftermath of a deadly plague, and the consequences of genetic engineering. While Oryx and Crake was Jimmy aka Snowman’s story and The Year of the Flood focused on Continue reading